Let’s face it, single being a parent is hard work! It is demanding, hectic and stressful and whatever the outcome or consequence, the buck stops with you. Despite the many challenges though, parenting once done ‘right’ can reap significant success.
Generally speaking, proper parenting requires a combination of innate and learnt skills. Whether parenting as a couple or co-parenting, the ability to balance work, domestic responsibilities and raising responsible children is an achievement that every parent wants to boast. But, there is something unique about a single parent, whether mother or father, who is able to effectively juggle and manage the household, a career and the challenges of raising your children #likeaboss.
So, how do these superheroes do this? Sure, they’re all different people, but if you run a little survey, you’ll find that among them, they share some common skillsets – skills that we agree that every single parent must have in order to weather the rough times and enhance the joy of effective single parenting.
Organised – The thought of being on your own with a child to raise, bills to pay, a household to run and only 24 hours in the day can be daunting and have you quite frazzled…. especially if you have more than one child. And while it’s easier said than done, being an organised person will be one of your biggest saving graces. Think about balancing their routines and extra-curricular activities, meal planning and preparation, school projects and homework, getting them to and from school – all this while you’re carrying out all your other daily activities. But, because you’re properly organised, you’re able to avoid the chaos, clashes and meltdowns. And being organised doesn’t mean you have to do it all on your own, it’s also knowing when to call on friends and family for support. You’re a single parent, but no man is an island.
Time Management – Closely associated with being organised, time management is another critical skill for the single parent. Taking control of your day ensures that you are able to get all the critical tasks done, or at least get as close as possible to achieve most of what was to be accomplished for the day. Again, identify outside resources to support you; maybe a parent who picks up at your child’s school could assist you with pick up and you reciprocate where necessary.
Counsellor – Children, in general, require nurturing, love, comfort and words of affirmation to grow. These become even more important in the face of a sometimes mean and cold world which has them feeling depressed at times when they see other kids’ moms and dads together….but not their’s. Your job as a parent is to reassure, reaffirm and encourage your children even while you might be depressed because you’re also dealing with the fact that you’re a single parent. But what makes the role of counselling even more critical here is that you have to play the role of mom and dad so they feel just as complete as a child living with both parents.
To Read More: Purchase your copy of Volume 9 #4– September-October 2017